Home > John Henry on rumors that he has considered selling Red Sox: "Those are just not true"

John Henry on rumors that he has considered selling Red Sox: "Those are just not true"

Scott Lauber Monday, February 11, 2013

Credit: Stuart Cahill

John Henry

FORT MYERS -- Making his first public appearance since the end of last season, Red Sox principal owner John Henry said in his most uncertain terms yet that he has no plans to sell the team.

"You just don't get an opportunity to own something like the Boston Red Sox," Henry said during a 25-minute session with reporters at JetBlue Park. "As long as we can do it, the three of us are committed to being here. These thoughts that we're somehow selling, those are just not true."

Rumors surfaced last year that Henry and chairman Tom Werner were thinking of selling the team. They have owned the Red Sox since 2002, during which time the team has won two World Series and made six playoff appearances. But it has been three seasons since the Red Sox went to the postseason, four since they won a playoff game. Last year, the Sox endured their worst season in nearly a half-century, losing 93 games and finishing last in the AL East.

At times, Henry and his partners have seemed increasingly distracted by their other ventures, including a pro soccer team in Liverpool, although Henry has disputed that perception. And over the past decade, most major league teams have turned record profits, making this an ideal time to sell. Last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers were sold for $2.15 billion, the most expensive acquisition in the history of pro sports.

"Tom and I have made a lot of money over the years, so that doesn't drive us," said Henry, who spoke alone, without Werner or team president Larry Lucchino. "If it was the driving factor, yes, I'm sure that would be a consideration. But the quality of our lives is what drives us and our competitive spirit. We're determined to be successful, and we have since day one. That hasn't changed. The value of these assets is just something we don't think in terms of.

"The last 12 years have been the best years of my life. Tom and Larry and I have had termendous working relationship. We've always been on the same page. It's fun working with talented people."

Along the way, though, Henry admits the Red Sox have lost their way.

After years of seemingly sound decision-making, the past few offseasons were characterized by excessive spending for high-profile free agents, including pitcher John Lackey ($82.5 million for five years) and left fielder Carl Crawford ($142 million for seven years) and the trade-and-sign of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to an eight-year, $154 million extension.

But despite an escalating payroll, the Red Sox' on-field performance has dropped precipitously.

"When you have a certain amount of success, generally you don't tend to change your philosophy, but in our case, there was a very profound shift in what we were trying to do," Henry said. "Why? I would only be speculating as to why, but there was a shift. We made a shift, and I don't think it ultimately, with hindsight, proved to be (productive).

"I think the things that we did when we first got here and we started, which was the basic core philosophy of the Red Sox, is something that we needed to get back to."

Henry rejected the notion, put forth by former general manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona, that the shift in philosophy was related to ownership's preoccupation with marketing the Red Sox' brand and hiking TV ratings on NESN.

"I have to laugh because that is just laughable," said Henry, who referred to comments he made after the 2011 season that he wasn't in favor of the Crawford signing. "It's ludicrous to say that we signed any player since we've been here for PR purposes. I don't think anybody would assert that, and if it's asserted, it's just ludicrous."

After last season, general manager Ben Cherington has overhauled the roster by signing seven free agents to short-term contracts rather than making offers to big names like outfielder Josh Hamilton and pitcher Zack Greinke. That said, the Red Sox' payroll will remain among the highest in the game.

But although the Sox have appeared allergic to contracts in excess of three years, Henry said the team will remain active in the free agent market.

"I just think you'll see a more disciplined approach," Henry said. "Again, we had such a financial advantage (in past years) that we weren't necessarily as disciplined as we could've been."

A few other highlights from Henry's media session:

On Francona's suggestion that Henry doesn't "love" baseball: "I don’t want to be defensive, especially about stuff that really is ridiculous. That’s ridiculous."

On whether the Red Sox' brand has suffered over the past two years: "The Francona book is selling. (The media is) still here and the fans are still coming. I think that last year was a definite setback. To finish in last place was something I never thought would happen while we owned the team. That's what we're focused on. People can say that we're brand-oriented or revenue-oriented. But the fact is we're wins- and losses-oriented, and we have been since Day 1. The whole thing about revenue has been about trying to be able to attract the best players."

On the failures of Bobby Valentine last year: "It's clear in retrospect that he wasn't the right man for that group last year. But I don't think you can blame Bobby for that. You can blame me, you can blame Larry, Tom. But I think he should manage again, and he'd be a great manager for the right team."